Page 61 of My Fake Fiancé

I nod, assuring him. “Yes, I love Dr. Pepper. Thank you. I hope she didn’t think I was being rude.”

“To be honest, I don’t think she even noticed. She wasn’t really paying attention, just enough to hear the correct order.” We both share a chuckle then I go back to looking at my menu. We spend a few minutes in silence then I figure out that I want the special burrito; beans, and cheese with rice, and their special sauce but I’ll have to make sure to ask her to leave off the avocado. I put my menu down and look up. We choose our orders at the same time and he looks up from his menu too.

My stomach growls and I blush and laugh a little. “I am hungry. I probably should have eaten a snack before this. Don’t judge me if I eat everything on my plate.” He holds his hands up in surrender.

“Hey, I would never judge you for eating. I know you can take me.” He adds at the last minute and I laugh then flex my muscles before poking them and shrugging. “Okay, maybe not.”

“Hey!” I tease and whack him with my napkin. He laughs and easily dodges it. The waitress comes back to the table with our drinks then we place our orders, handing the menus back to her. When she leaves, the silence returns. I tuck my legs under me and unwrap my silverware, putting my napkin in my lap to busy myself.

“So, how is your band? Have y’all gotten any gigs recently?” I ask about the band only because I know it’s something he can talk for hours about. As soon as I mention it, I cringe, thinking back to the party at Kurt’s apartment and the way Callum used his music to hurt me. My posture shrinks a little but Callum doesn’t seem to notice as he begins his long lengthy one-sided discussion about his band. I try to listen to be polite but my heart clenches and my eyes sting with tears threatening to spill over. I had almost forgotten about the terrible thing he had done to me in front of all of Kurt’s co-workers and neighbors.

I lean back against the chair and try to erase that from my memory, deciding not to let it ruin the night that so far has been pretty nice. I nod along and make little comments here and there to keep the conversation flowing and am grateful when our food finally arrives. I dig into my food, my stomach thanking me immensely. I pause to take a sip of my drink and realize he is still going on about his band. Some of their gigs seem impressive and I tell him so, this boosts his confidence. Not like he needed it though.

I start slowing down after a few minutes, my stomach beginning to get full and I decide to stop and take the rest of the burrito home with me. It was really good and I don’t want to waste it. I take a step back from the burrito but reach for a chip to dip in the salsa. I munch away on my chip, listening to Callum go on and on. I polish off half the bowl of chips and Callum hasn’t said anything judgmental about my eating so I keep eating.

“So, how have you been? Trouble in paradise, I assume, if y’all aren’t together anymore,” Callum says, finally talking about something other than his band and himself. Unfortunately, this is another topic I don’t want to discuss. I sigh and bite into another chip taking my time to chew and swallow then taking a sip of my drink before responding.

“Things were just moving a little too fast. For both of us.” I say and leave it at that, he nods, seeming to understand.

We make small talk while we finish our drinks and then the check comes.

“Oh, I can pay for myself.” I offer but he shakes his head and smiles at me.

“No, no. Then it wouldn’t be a date.” He pulls out his wallet putting some cash on the table then we stand up together and exit the restaurant. He wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. I lean into him, the night air had grown cold while we were eating. I shiver slightly and rub at my goose bump-covered arms. “Are you cold?” He asks before releasing me and quickly shrugging off his jacket and draping it over my shoulders. “Better?”

“Yes, thank you. You didn’t have to do that…” I say softly but I know he did. If he hadn’t then Tatyana would have been right and I would have to walk away. He shrugs, kissing my forehead and pulling me back against him as I slip my arms into his jacket, the cuffs of the jacket dipping below my fingertips. I ball the extra material up and clench it in my fists, letting him hold me close.

We walk back to my apartment in silence and I can feel every breath he takes. It catches every so often and I know he wants to say something but I am enjoying the silence and am grateful when he doesn’t say anything. When we reach my building, he lets go of me and opens the door. I thank him and then make my way inside. He follows behind me into the cramped lobby, I stop by the staircase.

“Thank you for walking me back,” I say, trying to make it clear that this is as far as he goes. He takes a step back nodding, looking a tad disappointed. I smile at my new stance in this relationship. He isn’t in charge of me anymore. “I had a nice time tonight.”

“Me too,” he says and grins at me. I smile back. “We should do this again sometime.” I nod.

“I’d like that,” I tell him honestly. “Oh, before I forget,” I say as I take his jacket off. “Here you go. Thank you for letting me borrow it.”

“Not a problem,” Callum says a little reluctantly as he takes the jacket back. He leans in and kisses my cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow?” He looks at me for my permission and I smile and nod again. “Goodnight, Juli.”

I wait for him to leave the building before I make my way up the stairs quickly. I burst into the apartment breathing heavily from the many flights up. Tatyana looks up from the couch surprised at my sudden entrance. She turns off the TV as I toss my keys and purse on the table by the door.

“Well? How’d it go?” She asks, tucking her legs under her and wrapping her arms around a pillow, watching me intently.

I take a second to catch my breath and smile at her sweetly before taking my time to take my shoes off. She throws a giant old t-shirt at me and I give her a look of gratitude before unbuttoning my pants and stripping down my stomach finally able to breathe after a night of tight pants. I put the shirt on and plop on the couch, pulling a blanket over my lap. “Okay, you’ve changed into something more comfortable, you can breathe. Now, tell me!” She throws the pillow she was holding at me and I laugh.

“Okay, okay,” I say through my laughter and her protests before I calm down and begin to tell her all the details of the night.

Chapter 54

Juliana

“Wow, so he wasn’t a complete…” Tatyana trails off when she sees the look I’m giving her. “Sorry, but he usually… is not the greatest?” I nod and we both laugh.

“You’re right. On both points. Tonight, he was different.”

“Did he kiss you?” She sits up on the couch, leaning forward. I roll my eyes and take my time responding, which of course, annoys her. “Juli! Answer me! He did, didn’t he? You shouldn’t have let him!”

“Jeez, girl, calm down. No, he did not kiss me. I don’t think he even tried to really. He kissed my cheek though. Which was nice, I guess. Sweet.” I sit back with a sigh. “I guess it’s good. But after everything we’ve been through?” I pause and look up at Tatyana. “What do you think?”

Tatyana gives me an undefinable look before shooting up off the couch. “I think that we are going out! Just us girls. I’m calling Mike and telling him you and I need some girl time.”

---